Mumbai: Engineering major, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the United States Navy, the company said on Tuesday.
The agreement follows an elaborate assessment of the company’s state-of-the-art Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai, undertaken by the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command, the company added.
The shipyard is also qualified by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for warship refits.
A T Ramchandani, executive vice president and head of L&T Defence, said, “This agreement marks a global recognition of our unmatched capabilities and facilities to undertake quality ship repairs and refits. L&T will dedicate all its dynamism, innovation, and Shipbuilding 4.0 techniques to meet the quality and delivery requirements of the US side.”
The USNS Salvor was received at L&T’s Shipyard for voyage repairs. The ship was received by the U.S. Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin, Ramchandani, and other senior officials of the US Embassy and L&T.
U.S. Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin said, “This MSRA is yet another milestone in our ever-expanding U.S.-India partnership. This historic agreement is a direct outcome of the 2022 U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and demonstrates the U.S. commitment to utilising repair facilities regularly at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli.
This agreement will serve to strengthen our two nations’ strategic partnership and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Ravin further added.
